Bring a piece of your summer memories and nature home with you with these pretty seashell trinket dishes.
These sweet little dishes are a fun craft to do with kids and you only need a few supplies. You will be making them over the course of 2 days, as you have to allow for some drying time, but they always turn out beautifully and each is one of a kind!
Supplies you will need to make seashell trinket dishes
Mod Podge: Is a glue, sealant, and gloss all in one. It’s commonly used to decopage or to preserve puzzles as it holds everything together. You can get various degrees of shine and gloss with the different varieties of Mod Podge. You can get it in craft stores and online through Amazon.
Seashells: Oyster shells, large flat shells, whatever you can find that has a fairly open area to decorate
Soap and bleach: You will need to wash and soak the seashells in bleach to remove the algae and anything else from the shells
Sponge brush: You will need one to apply the Mod Podge. These usually come in a pack of a few different sizes. I find them at the dollar store and hardware stores
2 small paint brushes: One small one to paint around the edges of the shell, and one larger one to paint the backside of the shell
Paint: Whatever colour you like! You will be painting around the edges of the shell and the underside. I like to use rose gold and yellow gold metallic paint for this part
Decorative napkins: Most paper napkins come in 2 or 3 ply. You will be carefully separating the top layer which has the print, and just using that. Dig out your supply of cocktail napkins in all different patterns
Newsprint or parchment paper: Something to cover your table or work station
How to make seashell dishes with napkins
Step 1
Collect large shells from the beach. If you are not near a beach, Michaels and some Dollar Stores carry shells. If you have collected them from the shorleine, fill the sink or a large bowl with soapy water and a splash of bleach. Let the shells soak for a couple of hours, then rinse off. You can use an old toothbrush to clean out sand or barnacles. Let the shells dry completely before starting the next step
Step 2
Using the sponge brush, apply a layer of Mod Podge on the entire inside of the shell. Pull apart the layers of your paper napkin and carefully lay down the printed layer into the wet Mod Podge. Use your fingers or the same sponge brush to flatten the paper napkin down, trying to smooth out any creases. It’s easiest to work from the middle of the shell outward toward the edges. You will have some overhang of napkin and that is ok. Let the glue dry overnight
Step 3
When the glue has completely dried, gently rip off the excess napkin from around the edges of the shell and discard. If you find any areas that could use more glue, then apply it now and let it dry
Step 4
Use the small paintbrush to paint around the edges of the shell where the napkin ends. When this layer is dry, flip over the shell and paint the underside, if you like. Let the paint dry completely
Step 5
To seal everything and give your shell a light shine or heavy gloss, apply another coat of Mod Podge over the entire shell, top and bottom. Let it dry and your trinket dish is ready to use!
Notes:
Your trinket dish won’t be waterproof, unless you apply a layer of sealant. So, don’t use your dish as a soap dish or for anything that might get it wet. It is perfect for jewellery, little bits and bobs, or just as a decorative piece on a dresser or coffee table
Some oyster shells might have a dark purple spot on the shell where the oyster was attached. This could show through your napkin. If you don’t want to see it, use white acrylic paint over the spot and let it dry before continuing with step 2
Be sure to wash your paint brushes with soapy water so they don’t dry hardened with paint. The sponge brushes can be discarded or rinsed well with soapy water, although it is difficult to fully remove the Mod Podge
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